452.03 Brokers and salespersons licensed.

(1) Except as provided in s. 452.137, no person may engage in or follow the business or occupation of, or advertise or hold himself or herself out as, or act temporarily or otherwise as a broker or salesperson without a license issued under this chapter. The board may grant a license only to a person who is competent to transact that business or occupation in a manner that safeguards the interests of the public, and only after satisfactory proof of the person's competence has been presented to the board.

(2) No license under this chapter is required for an individual who, on behalf of and under the direction of a firm or one or more licensees associated with a firm, provides the firm or licensee with services that are limited to those that are purely administrative, clerical, or personal in nature.

History: 1981 c. 94, 391; 1989 a. 307; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 258.

Under s. 452.03 an agreement to pay a real estate brokerage commission to a person not licensed as a broker is void at its inception. Using a licensed broker who provides no actual services as a conduit for a fee to an unlicensed person does not create a co-brokerage arrangement authorized by s. 452.19. Badger III Ltd. v. Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff, 196 Wis. 2d 891, 539 N.W.2d 904 (Ct. App. 1995), 94-2531.

Officers of a corporation or partners of a partnership can act for the corporation or partnership in the rental of real estate owned by the entity without being licensed as real estate brokers. 60 Atty. Gen. 1 (1971).

Actions of a tenants union on behalf of its members may require a real estate broker's license. 60 Atty. Gen. 118 (1971).

The permitted limits of nonlicensed independent contractor agents are discussed. 70 Atty. Gen. 23.